What colleges should I be looking at?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'll be coming in as an International Student from India (lost my residency :( ) for Undergraduate next year.</p>

<p>I should be able to pull off 80-90% in my final Standard 12 Exams this year. It is NOT at all as easy as in the US. Rigorous course makes the AP exams seem like child's play. I've contacted universities, and they look at my Indian scores differently, so that shouldn't be a major problem.</p>

<p>Top ~5% of graduating class.</p>

<p>I'm scoring in the 700-750 ranged for SAT Math, and ~750 for SAT II in practice tests. I'm taking the test later this year so I have plenty of time to prepare, and I need to really work on Critical Reading and Writing.</p>

<p>Taking 3-4 APs, Biology, Chemistry, Physics C and maybe Calculus AB.</p>

<p>I'm expecting excellent teacher recommendations, I know they love me and keep bragging about how i compare to other students.</p>

<p>I should be able to pull off some good essays.</p>

<p>My activities are:</p>

<p>-I've given seminars, on various topics in 9th and 10th grade. Gave a lecture on the environment in 11th, won 2nd place. Gave a lecture on Epi-Genetics in 12th, and won 1st place out of about 35 students who participated.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Major member in an First Robotics group, I was the engineering/design leader. We won 2nd place in the national contest, just missed the Internationals. Won 1st place for best programming.</p></li>
<li><p>Did a detailed study of a polluted lake in 11th grade, maybe can count as research.</p></li>
<li><p>Won a Documentary contest at a major fest in 11th grade.</p></li>
<li><p>I sometimes spend my free time web designing, coding CSS, and PHP. Have worked with clients a few times, and plan to make some serious $$$ this summer. (Can that count as work experience?)</p></li>
<li><p>I play the flute, was in the band in middle school but practice on my own since I've been here.</p></li>
<li><p>I play tennis almost everyday, since about 9th grade. Played for school too. Also play Squash and Badminton.</p></li>
<li><p>I spend my time with photography and digital art as a hobby. Been video editing since about 6th grade. I do all kinds of stuff
with family videos, and sometimes make animations etc. and do stuff
for school etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Was the IT club president in 9th grade, and science club committee member in 11th and 12th grade. I've helped with setting up different activities, and hosted a quiz.</p></li>
<li><p>Looking to do some research this summer.</p></li>
<li><p>Going to a Rural Indian Village school to help them use technology (We donated 2 computers) and teach them etc. for a month</p></li>
<li><p>Won at the state level science fairs back in 7th grade when I was in the US, got invited by a Nobel Laureate to attend his lecture, and was invited for a pre-college course. I know this is before high school, but should I mention this?</p></li>
</ul>

<p>India doesn't have many opportunities for activities unfortunately, I did all that was possible plus with the enormous load we have on our academics.</p>

<p>I can afford only $30,000 Tuition + Boarding and lodging/year, so that puts a major cap on what universities I have to choose from. I might take a loan of $5,000-$10,000 a year (20-40K total, and then the interest...) but I really don't want to do so since I want to go for Graduate school right away.</p>

<p>I want a school with has a good Biology department, Research opportunities, and students who are bright/competitive and NOT a party school with average student don't care about their academics/classes/future etc... I don't want to end up being the only smart guy in class like I have been my entire life.</p>

<p>And very importantly, I want to get into a top Graduate school after I graduate, MIT, Berkley, Princeton, Stanford etc. can't afford now, but I don't want to end up in some school which won't be recognized that should hamper my admissions chances.</p>

<p>I'm looking at the following schools right now:</p>

<p>University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY Buffalo
I'll also just apply to Princeton and MIT, they offer need-blind aid to International students.(So does Yale, Dartmouth, and Harvard but I'm not interested in those) I might be able to make it.</p>

<p>And about Stony Brook, I'm really completely confused. There are people I've seen here who say it is a great school for the Sciences, and academics, but then there are those that absolutely hate it, and keep on ranting about the social environment, and boring classes with professors you'll never find.
Are these people just being immature and want their hands to be held/too lazy to do the work? Can someone who is actually a good student over there tell what its actually like.</p>

<p>If I get into the 3 schools above, will I be able to go on to top elite schools for Graduate School, with good grades and research/activities done at college? Or will I look unrecognized.</p>

<p>And what are my chances of getting into the above 3?</p>

<p>Are there any chances of getting a decent scholarship, so I can attend a better more expensive university? A scholarship of $5-10K per year would give me many more options.</p>

2

<p>Did I make too large a post? :P</p>

3

<p>I’m scoring in the 700-750 ranged for SAT Math, and ~750 for SAT II in practice tests. I’m taking the test later this year so I have plenty of time to prepare, and I need to really work on Critical Reading and Writing.</p>

<p>You need to take the SAT as soon as you can to get an idea of what you’re dealing with. Practice scores are not real scores, as many find out. </p>

<p>*I can afford only $30,000 Tuition + Boarding and lodging/year, so that puts a major cap on what universities I have to choose from. I might take a loan of $5,000-$10,000 a year (20-40K total, and then the interest…) but I really don’t want to do so since I want to go for Graduate school right away.</p>

<p>University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY Buffalo
I’ll also just apply to Princeton and MIT, they offer need-blind aid to International students.(So does Yale, Dartmouth, and Harvard but I’m not interested in those) I might be able to make it.</p>

<p>*</p>

<p>Because of your financial limitations, you really only have 2 types of choices…elites that are need blind to int’ls, and other schools with affordable COAs like UMinn, Iowa St, and the SUNYs.</p>

<p>*I want a school with has a good Biology department, Research opportunities, and students who are bright/competitive and NOT a party school with average student don’t care about their academics/classes/future etc… I don’t want to end up being the only smart guy in class like I have been my entire life.
*</p>

<p>Do not confuse student who major in light majors who party a lot with the serious students in serious majors that are on the same campuses. There are many top schools that have a “Party label” because those who take the easier majors party a lot. </p>

<p>However, that doesn’t mean that the students in physics, bio, chem, math, and engineering are like that. Chances are that those kids will be as smart or smarter than you.</p>

4

<p>Aren’t most deadlines already passed?</p>

5

<p>Would some of the really great state universities be financially possible? University of Michigan, University of Virginia, for example. Also, re-consider Dartmouth. The undergraduate education is supposed to be super and it is slightly easier to get into than Princeton.</p>

6

<p>Are you a junior or a senior? WIll you be starting college in fall 2010 or fall 2011?</p>

<p>“Because of your financial limitations, you really only have 2 types of choices…elites that are need blind to int’ls, and other schools with affordable COAs like UMinn, Iowa St, and the SUNYs.”</p>

<p>Not necessarily, you can apply to non-elites that are need-aware but generous with internationals. Like Bates, Macalester, Colby, etc. </p>

<p>[Schools</a> Awarding International Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/]Schools”>Schools Awarding International Financial Aid)</p>

<p>Be aware that since you’re from India, competition will be tough. Check out also DePauw, Grinnell, etc etc. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>^ Thank you for that link, I’ll check that.</p>

<p>And I’ll have a look at Dartmouth again, at the same time look through the thousands of scholarships that exist out there…</p>

<p>I’m taking a year off after school ends in March, starting Fall 2011.</p>

8

<p>Definitely look into Minnesota. It’s in an amazing city with a ton to do, and I guarentee you that there will be plenty of smart kids there, especially in the Engineering, Science, Math, Business, and Biological Science departments, some of which are in the top in the country. Plus the tuition + room and board is $24K which makes it basically the cheapest top state school in the nation.</p>

9

<p>^Yeah I second that. UMinny also has a lot of international students. Great price. Great location. Great school. Win-Win situation.</p>

10

<p>You have awesome stats. You can easily apply to some LAC’s and ask for financial aid, they will be more than willing to accept you. The ivies might be reach, but you are certainly competitive enough to give it a try. Send me a PM if you have any questions.</p>

<p>PS- Use your gap year well. Colleges will ask you what you did in that one year.</p>

11

<p>I very much agree with the above. Use your gap year well. As your interest lies in environment, maybe volunteer with a non-profit organization that deals with the environment in India. You’ll have fun pursuing your passion AND not worry about doing nothing in your gap year. Do stuff that interests you also like the tech stuff and others. Just expand on it, delve deeper.</p>

<p>Also, I suggest adding SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Geneseo to your list. They’re considered the state flagships of NY. Also, don’t be afraid to apply to LACs. Some of them are very good at science too, if that’s what you’re interested in. Graduate school will look very kindly on elite LACs graduates (if I’m not mistaken) </p>

<p>[Schools</a> Awarding International Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.internationalstudent.com/schools_awarding_aid/]Schools”>Schools Awarding International Financial Aid) Link to schools awarding aid to internationals (disclaimer : some may be out of date, make sure to check with individual websites)</p>

12

<p>I would definitely check out Grinnell which is well known by grad schools for outstanding sciences, and by those who know LACs for generous financial aid which they use, in part, to recruit international students (12% of the student body is international). The student body is unpretentious, hard-working, quirky and tolerant. Their exceptional endowment also supports state of the art facilities, student research, and exceptionally small (25 or less) classes even in the intro science courses (which even at LACs tend to be 50-70 students). S is a student there and loves it.</p>

13

<p>“Definitely look into Minnesota. It’s in an amazing city with a ton to do, and I guarentee you that there will be plenty of smart kids there, especially in the Engineering, Science, Math, Business, and Biological Science departments, some of which are in the top in the country. Plus the tuition + room and board is $24K which makes it basically the cheapest top state school in the nation.”</p>

<p>Yes, I have been considering Minnesota. Do you know anyone who’s there or who’s graduated from there? The only thing I’m worried about from Minnesota is since its a BIG state school, the classes sizes are probably going to be HUGE. One of my friend’s has a cousin in UT Austin (Also a top state school) and with the large class sizes, he just ends up being lost in the lectures, and pretty studies everything on his own, research and other opportunities go only to a few students.</p>

<p>“I very much agree with the above. Use your gap year well. As your interest lies in environment,”</p>

<p>My interest doesn’t lie in the environment, I just gave a lecture on it in 11th grade.
Yes, I’m making use of my gap year, as I said I’m teaching some rural school kids.
I’m also going to do some research, if I can get myself recognized or something I think it could really help my application. My interest is in Molecular Biology. I might also see if I can take some courses in Biology, or I can read some stuff on my own.</p>

<p>I’ve noticed that many of the top private colleges offer a lot more scholarships, is it really going to work?</p>

14

<p>Some schools will not award scholarships to students who take a gap year. In the fine print of some merit scholarship qualifications, it says that the student must start school the fall after senior year of high school.</p>

<p>There are some affordable schools that have deadlines that haven’t passed.</p>

<p>I’ve noticed that many of the top private colleges offer a lot more scholarships, is it really going to work?</p>

<p>Many elite schools do not offer merit scholarships. Which ones are you talking about?</p>

<p>*Would some of the really great state universities be financially possible? University of Michigan, *</p>

<p>UMich has a COA of $50k per year.</p>

15

<p>I have to take a gap year because my exams are in March, I get results in May, and I’m taking the SAT in October.</p>

<p>I didn’t say elite schools, top as in top ~25ish.</p>

16

<p>I don’t think you have to take a gap year because of senior exams. </p>

<p>Schools admit students based on grades 9-11. </p>

<p>Senior year grades don’t get much consideration, because EVERYONE has senior year exams in the spring.</p>

<p>If your concern was true, then no senior could apply during his senior year of school.</p>

<p>(and, again, some scholarships are not available if you take a gap year.)</p>

17

<p>That’s if your coming from an American school, but I’ve already done my research and know what I’m talking about. They require my Standard 12 Board Certificate for admission.</p>

18

<p>I’m talking about all the other int’l kids coming here right from high school. What are they doing?</p>

<p>They require my Standard 12 Board Certificate for admission.</p>

<p>Who are “they”? Do you mean ALL colleges require this before they will admit a student? Or do colleges admit int’l students and then ask for final transcripts/scores to be sent later?</p>

19

<p>mom2collegekids</p>

<p>since the OP hasn’t even taken the SATs yet, he/she probably cannot apply to any colleges this year anyway.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I looked over the schools mentioned in this thread and I couldn’t find this requirement anywhere. Do you know of any specific schools that will not give merit money to kids who have not previously applied to college?</p>

<p>To the OP</p>

<p>I would not mention 7th grade activities, unless you can somehow fit it in while speaking about an interest that you have been pursuing throughout high school. You can, of course, mention a pre-high school activity in an essay.</p>

<p>I think that your activities seem a little too scattered. You should try and make them more focused. I would probably try and set up a website for your business and then, depending on when you started making money, you might be able to say that it was a 3 year activity.</p>

<p>I think that you have a good chance of getting into the original state schools on your list and if you do well at any of them, you definitely have the possibility of getting accepted at a top graduate school. Other people have come up with some good suggestions (i.e., SUNY Binghamton and Geneseo, Grinnell). I might also add Lafayette, Vassar and maybe Whitman.</p>

20

<p>*I looked over the schools mentioned in this thread and I couldn’t find this requirement anywhere. Do you know of any specific schools that will not give merit money to kids who have not previously applied to college?
*</p>

<p>Here’s an example of UMinn hinting at such a rule…</p>

<p>When will I hear if I am awarded an academic scholarship?
Award notices will be sent to recipients by the end of March of their senior year. </p>

<p>I know that I’ve seen specific mentionings of this on other schools’ websites. For instance, at my kids’ college, here is what it says…</p>

<p>How can I be considered for scholarships?</p>

<p>As an entering freshman (applying for the Fall semester following your senior year of high school), you will need to send a completed application for admission, official high school transcript (grades 9-11), official ACT or SAT scores, application fee, and the completed scholarship section of the application for admission by December 1 **of your senior year in high school. **</p>

<p>I don’t know what college swimcatsmom’s D goes to, but this is what she posted on another thread in regards to this same subject…</p>

<p>*I know the scholarship my daughter has at her State U (full tuition plus some additional money) specifically said she was required to start college the fall after graduating high school. *</p>

<p>There must be a reason why colleges don’t want to award scholarships to kids after senior year. Maybe they feel that their GPA’s & ACT/SATs will be unfairly higher because they will have completed senior year. That wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the students.</p>

<p>Perhaps when schools report the stats of their incoming frosh class, non-standard students (students who don’t come from high school) are not included in the reported stats, therefore some colleges don’t waste their limited resources on students that can’t help them.</p>

<p>I don’t know what the reason is, it’s just true for some schools.</p>